South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
Australia’s December Trade Surplus Expands but Falls Short of Expectations 
Asian Markets Slip as AI Spending Fears Shake Tech, Wall Street Futures Rebound 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
Gold and Silver Prices Rebound After Volatile Week Triggered by Fed Nomination 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals 
U.S. Stock Futures Edge Higher as Tech Rout Deepens on AI Concerns and Earnings 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
India Services Sector Rebounds in January as New Business Gains Momentum: HSBC PMI Shows Growth 
Asian Currencies Trade Sideways as Dollar Stabilizes, Yen Weakens Ahead of Japan Election 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
Asian stock markets hovered near four-year highs on Tuesday, supported by Wall Street’s record close, as investors awaited major corporate earnings and developments in U.S. tariff negotiations with key trade partners.
Japan’s markets reopened after a holiday, reacting modestly to weekend election results. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s ruling coalition lost ground in upper house elections, but Ishiba pledged to stay in office. The yen held steady at 147.46 per dollar after rallying 1% on Monday. Japanese equities opened higher but pared gains, while bond markets remained calm, with most of the political outcome priced in.
Commonwealth Bank economist Kristina Clifton noted that Ishiba’s weakened leadership could lead to more fiscal stimulus, potentially pressuring the yen and Japanese government bonds.
MSCI’s Asia-Pacific index excluding Japan briefly touched its highest since October 2021 and remains up 16% year-to-date. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq hit new highs on Monday, driven by Alphabet and other tech giants ahead of a wave of earnings.
Investor attention remains fixed on the August 1 deadline for U.S. trade deals. Tensions with the EU are mounting, with Brussels considering retaliation. Clifton emphasized that trade agreements with Japan and the EU are pivotal, adding that the dollar could weaken further against the euro and pound depending on the deal outcomes.
The euro held firm at $1.1689, while the dollar index stood at 97.905. Concerns over the Federal Reserve’s independence persist, fueled by President Trump’s criticism and comments from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
The Fed is expected to keep rates unchanged in July, but markets anticipate potential rate cuts starting in September. In commodities, oil prices slipped as fears of a U.S.-EU trade war raised demand concerns. Brent crude fell to $68.97, while WTI eased to $66.99.
